Out of the mouths of babes

Beat the Heat and Headaches in June’s Migraine Awareness Month

The summer is beginning to heat up and for many the change in weather can be a migraine trigger. Approximately 30-million or more people in America suffer from migraines and spikes in heat have been found to be a prominent cause. As migraines affect seven percent of men, 18 percent of women and seven percent of children, it is important to know how to prevent and combat these sometimes, excruciating headaches to enjoy the summer to its full potential. In the spirit of National Migraine Awareness Month this June, we’d like to share some tips on how to beat the heat and those migraines as summer begins to sizzle:

Prevent overheating this summer by always staying hydrated. While water is always the best choice, drinks that are caffeine-free like lemonade are also helpful in off-setting a headache.

When spending time outside, balance time between shady and sunny areas.

Prevent migraines from lasting for hours by keeping a cold compress nearby to quickly treat the pain, and keeping it from lasting longer.

Try hats with broad brims that keep sun off your neck and upper chest and back as well as your face.

If you exercise outdoors or don’t have air conditioning, you may need to modify your exercise routine for the summer. Consider lower-impact exercise like swimming, walking and hiking to stay in control of your body temperature.

If you suffer from chronic migraines, consider keeping a migraine journal in order to learn what changes in your environment might trigger a migraine. The journal could be invaluable should you choose to seek treatment from a migraine specialist.

Although there’s no sure way to avoid every headache or migraine this summer, we can still take steps to minimize them and their impact. When we take care of ourselves, we can take full advantage of those long summer days with our friends and family.

Today’s Guest Blog post is written by Holly Ruma, Mother, Marathoner, Yoga instructor and President of IPC Medical Corp., the developer of the HeadCoolie. IPC Medical is a diversified personal care products and services company based out of Massachusetts. The organization is committed to assisting with holistic healthcare by providing innovative solutions using only safe, all natural and chemical-free products. The HeadCoolie is a unique reusable adjustable headband designed to provide non-chemical, non-prescription therapeutic relief for headaches of all kinds, including migraines.